Automatic recording fire-alarm.



H. SYMES.

AUTOMATIC RECORDING FIRE ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 8.1913.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

rl E WHT H n CII HENRY SYMES, OF MORNINGTON, NEAR DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND.

AUTOMATIC RECORDING FIRE-ALARM.

Application led October 8, 1913.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY Sriuns, tramways manager, town clerk, a subj'ect of TIis Majesty the King of Great Britain, residing at Mornington, near the city of Dunedin, in the British Dominion of New Zealand, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Recording F ire-Alarms Y and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to set forth a means of, and suitable apparatus for, forwarding signals, or otherwise giving alarms, such as of iire, or the like.

Also when needed, of recording the exact situation from which such signal was given.

For this purpose I employ electrical currents. and when signals are given from a considerable distance, they are preferably received by the usual type of drop shutter, which automatically closes a local circuit strong enough for actuating the various apparatus needed for the purpose. Referring to the accompanying drawing,

Figure l represents a diagrammatic view showing parts in section and elevation and embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is adiagrammatic plan view showing a modification of a part of the structure.

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively an end and side elevation showing a circuit closing mechanism embodied in the modification shown by Fig. 2.

A1 A1, are wires from a street alarm boX B4, as shown by Fig. l, or from a building B5, as shown by Fig. 2. A2 A2 are wires for house protection in the modification shown by Fig. 2. Signals from Wires A1, whether by pressing a button or from the closing of a circuit formed by wires A2, are received by the usual drop shutter A, the latter releasing the circuit closer A5 which drops into the mercury cups A" by the actuation of an electro-magnetvB to which the said wires A1 are connected, thus closingla local circuit A" including a battery BG. This causes the magnet Bto attract the armature C, which releases the bell-crank D and allows the hooked arm E, and consequently the watertank E1 to slide down the tube F to the lower position (dotted). This sliding movement of the tank actuates a signal, such as whistle E by pulling a cord C4 connected g Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917. Serial No. 794,178.

to the upper portion of the tank E1 and running upwardly over a sheave S3 and connected to a frame which in turn is attached by a continuation of the same cord to the operating means for the whistle E3. A spring E4t is also attached to the frame E5 which operates to restore the fra-me and the parts connected thereto to normal position when released, the frame E5 carrying a pawl EG cooperating with an incline ET at the end of a projection or arm E8, the pawl EG being adapted to engage a catch H. The tube F has longitudinal slots F1 and F2 which provide overflow means for the tank E1 into the said pipe F in accordance with the elevated and lowered positions of the said tank.

In the lower position, tank E1 empties automatically through the slots Fl and the block t 2 on arm E, which forms a part of a locking mechanism, is'retained under spring catch Gr, holding tank El down, for if not held, it would rise while emptying. The fioat L lowers with it and continues to lower till the tank is empty when a circuit closer L1 connected to the float L engages the mercury cups L2 and closes the electrical circuit AT including the said cups as shown by Fig. l which attracts the armature C to remove catch G from block E2 by the bell-crankarm C1.

The lightened tank now rises and as the spring D1 lifts back bellecrank D, the tank is automatically reset in itsoperative position. This lifting is effected by spring E4 which latter pulls frame with it, whereby pawl EG, which is at that time engaged with catch H, pulls said catch in the same directien, thus opening valve H1 inthe siphon pipe and thereby starting the operation of the siphon. The catch H is held in this position by means of a spring-pressed latch J, which is connected with the usual float lever for controlling the passage of the water from the main M, said catch being released when the float lever sinks and pulls latch J downward with it, whereupon valve H1 closes and the water that remains siphons into the tank E1. The upper tank, from which the siphon pipe leads, is then refilled from the mains at M, in the usual way, both tanks being of the proper size to fill from the upper to the lower as described. The lifting of tank E1 lifts the circuit closer L1 and opens the circuit A7, thus the apparatus is ready for another signal. The fixed arm ll by resting on the point ot the bell-crank lever D holds the tank up. llllhen the electromagnet B2 attracts the armature C the free end of the said armature is then raised clear of the short or top arm of the bell-crank D, thus releasing the said bell-crank from engagement with the iixed arm E and permitting the tank to drop or tall to the position shown in dotted lines, the block E2 of the said arm E engaging under the point oit the spring catch D1 which retains the tank in lowered position when empty, the spring Et operating at the proper interval to restore the tank to its normal elevated position. then the electrical bridge L1 is lowered and closes the circuit through the cups L2 the armature C is again attracted by the electromagnet B and the spring catch is retracted from the block E2, thus permitting the tank E to rise. rlChe bell-crank D is pivoted as shown and only has a slight movement, or a movement sulicient to permit the end of the arm E adjacent thereto to pass downwardly or clear the same. rEhe arm E always moves with the tank as it is fixed to the latter, and when the said arm is released from the catch G the long or horizontal arm of the bell-crank D is raised by the spring D1 connected to the lower side of the arm E and adapted to engage under the longer arm of the said bell-crank D. Consequently, when the arm E rises with the tank the bell-crank D is restored to normal position for engagement by the tree end ot the armature C through the medium of the spring D1. rllhe catch H slides horizontally, being pulled by the pawl or member E, the said latter member or pawl rising as it pulls. The engagement ot the catch lll by the pawl or member E continues and the drawing action on the said catch ensues until the locking catch J engages the recess in the 'under sido ot the catch H as shown, the locking catch thus holding the catch H until the float and lever connected to the cut-olil valve of the inlet pipe M descend, the said tioat and lever being attached to the locking catch 'J and by their descent exert a downward pull on said catch which results in a release of the catch Irl, and the valve H1 which is connected to the latter catch is thereby permitted to quickly drop and close the air vent of the siphon S1, but the Float tank is relieved of its contents by flow thereof through the main body ot the said siphon into the tank El. lt will be understood that the tank in which the tioat and arm for the cut-0H" valve of the inlet pipe M are located will be .controlled as to the quantity ot water running therein through the buoyancy ot the l'loat7 which acting through the lever arm will either open or close the valve in accordance with the level ot water in the tank. This is a well known structure and is oommon in all flushing tanks.

imanes When the tank El is lowered, it automatically resets the drop shutter At owing to its cord connection with the weight K, thus drawing the circuit closer iti to the position shown. When tank El is at the low point, signals from the clockwork gear O which revolves a signaling disk O1 are transmitted to signaling mechanism herein described. The tank El and the tank from which the siphon projects will have approximately the same capacity, that is, the feeding tank from which the siphon projects will have a capacity relatively to the tank El that the water of the feeding tank will be su'liicient when siphoned into the tank E from the feeding tank to give ample operating weight .to the tank El and to attain a prede ermined level to raise the float L high enough to give the proper normal distance between the contact bridge lil and the mercury cups L2. ln the event that more water will flow into the tank El through the siphon from the feeding tank above than is actually required, it will overflow through the pipe l" and eventually pass out through the outlet pipe Ft. However, the upper :tecding tank from which the siphon leads will be controlled as to the amount et water flowing thereinto by the float and arm connected with the ecd valve of the main pipe M in a manner similar to the ordinary flushing tank. its shown by Fig. 2, the wires toi-ming the circuit A2 engage sheaves arranged as shown or disposed otherwise within the interior of a building, apart-ment or room, these wires being connected to a circuit closing means C3 shown diagrammatically by Fig. 2 and in detail by Figs. 3- and 4- and consisting et an adjustable mercury cup Q under the point ot an adjustable weighted bobbin l capable of sliding on arm P of a 'bell-crank lever and also adjustable for the other end oi saine wire A2, at a slot in arm P1. 'lhe wire A2 has its slack taken up by winding the bobbin P2 in accordance with the adjustment of said bobbin lengthwise of the arm l? ot the bell-crank lever, and in addition slack in the said wire may be taken up by shitting the same from one slot to another slot of the arm P1, and by this means the said wire A2 may be maintained relatively taut. ln the event oi' a tire breaking out in a room or apartment in which this part of the apparatus is operatively associated the part of the wire if within the room or apartment that may bc affected by extreme heat and slackened will ycause a corresponding slackness relatively to a primalV adjusted taut condition of the portion ot the wire engaging the bobbin, and the bellcrank lever which has been held in the normal position shown by Fig. i will be permitted to swing so that a Contact may be made between the contact point ot the bobbin P2 and the mercury cups, thereby closing EGO the circuit and operating the alarm signal. The bell crank is most sensitive when bobbin l)2 is on the outer slot of the arm P and the wire is engaged in the lowest slot of arm P1, and Vice-versa. The bobbin P2 can wind in any slack and be iXed by a top thumbscrew, and the cup Q can be moved and iixcd under it as shown, the whole being on an insulated board. The modification just disclosed and as shown by Figs. 2, 8 and i will be connected up to the aplnu'atus shown by F ig. l in place of the alarm boX B'L through the medium of the wires A1 and the location of the fire in the building, room or apartment will be disclosed by the operation of the signaling means and annunciator embodied in the apparatus sh own by iiig. 1 and as hereinbeiore described.

Having described my invention, what l desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States, is :h

i. In an alarm, the combination of an electrically-controlled shutter; a circuit closer operatively associated therewith; a circuit wherein said circuit closer is iueluded; an electronni-gnet included in said circuit; a vertically movable weighted elen ment having means for automatically restoring it to normal position; trip mechanism controlled by said magnet for normally holding said element in raised posi` tion; a signal; and connections between said element and said signal for automatically actuating the latter when the former descends consequent upon being tripped.

2. ln an alarm, the combination of an electricallycontrolled shutter; a circuit closer operatively associated therewith; a circuit wherein said circuit closer is included; an electromagnet included in said circuit; a weighted element; trip mechanism controlled by said magnet for normally holding said element in raised position; a signal; connections between said element and said signal for automatically actuating the latter when the former descends consequent upon being tripped; and means for automatically resetting said shutter during such descent.

3. In an alarm, the combination of an electrically controlled shutter; a circuit closer operatively associated therewith; a circuit wherein said circuit closer is ineluded; au electromagnet included in said circuit; a water tank; means controlled by said magnet for normally holding said tank in raised position, said tank having means for discharging its contents during its descent consequent upon release; a signal and connections ,between said tank and said signal for automatically actuating the latter when the tormer descends.

4l. ln an alarm, the combination of an electrically-controlled shutter; a circuit closer operatively associated therewith; a circuit wherein said circuit closer is included; an electromagnet included in said circuit; a waterI tank; means controlled by said magnet for .normally holding said tank in raised position, said tank having means ior discharging its contents during its descent consequent upon release; a signal; connections between said tank and said signal for automatically actuating the latter when the former descends; and means for automatically relling said tank during its ascent.

5. ln an alarm, the combination of an electrically-controlled shutter; a circuit closer operatively associated therewith; a circuit wherein said circuit closer is .included; an electromagnet included in said circuit; a weighted element; trip mechanism controlled by said magnet for normally holding said element in raised position; a signal; connections between said element and said signal for automatically actuating the latter and resetting said shutter to break said circuit when the said element descends consequent upon being tripped; auxiliary means for closing said circuit at the completion of such descent to reset said trip mechanism and raise said element.

G. In an alarm, the combination ot an electrically-controlled circuit closer; acireuit wherein said circuit closer is included and also embodying signal operating means; a signal connected to said signal operating means; and means operable automatically consequent upon the closing of said circuit for actuating said signal and provided with devices for automatically resetting the same in normal condition.

In testimony whereof, I ailiX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY SYMES.

lVitn esses HnN'roN MACAULAY DAVEY, THOMAS JONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

